What Marshawn Lynch Said Was Not That Serious

*This post was originally posted 04/12/2015 and later restored, reedited and republished. Read about that here. It may or may not contain original photos used.

*I read this interview before his comments made headlines.*

Although I understand how colorism exists, I don’t understand why we continue to let it exist. Today’s topic is Marshawn Lynch featuring the light skin and dark skin woman debate.

Lynch plays for the Seattle Seahawks and gained mainstream popularity this year for his candid post-game interviews. Basically, he’s the “I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” dude.

Lynch sat down with XXL Magazine to discuss music, particularly hip-hop. Since hip-hop lyrics are saturated with sexism he was asked who he thought are the 10 hottest women trending and then asked his dating preference. I just knew if Rihanna didn’t make the cut he would lose a fan who was never a fan.

Now when he says “anything” is it safe to say poodles, Chia Pets, and/or tennis balls are good too? But the controversy started when the interview responded, “You said light-skinned or did I hear that wrong?” Which he reiterated “I said fair-skinned…she’s going to be a little bit more brown…”, I knew she was trying to start some shit.

Yes, homegirl, you heard wrong. After reading the interview and surfing around gossip/entertainment blogs, I couldn’t help but call bullshit on the bullshit. I won’t say who but I came across a blogger who argued fair and light skin are the same. If Lynch was attempting to be politically correct to avoid trouble, trouble found him.

I’m not about to do this with y’all. Nah. When you take issue with someone saying fair skin because it allegedly is the same as light skin: you’re intentionally advancing colorism. You are. You’re offended one didn’t choose light or dark based on the stigma that light is good and dark is bad deriving from the issue that colorism in the Black community in itself is a caste system.

You know what I’ve noticed: There is a double standard to the advantage of women (and believe we do not have many). There isn’t nearly as much outrage when a woman says she likes a man of a certain complexion. We can say we like a dark brotha all day long and get some high fives. I may be wrong, but then again Lynch is being criticized for saying “fair skin”.

Preferences do not offend me. You may not agree with it, but you can’t control who a person prefers to date.

Related

TAGS

RELATED POST

aja witt

The offense comes when “light skin” preference is COLORISM, and “dark skin” preference is not. Read a damn book. Colorism is a hatred for darker skin which still heavily impacts the Black community. Fair is yellowish, or light skin… so yeah, fair and light do mean the same thing. In fact, fair skin is usually used in reference to white women.